An independent interim review report released today finds the Albanese Government's Secure Jobs, Better Pay Act is already starting to deliver pay rises for Australian workers, and help them with the cost of living.
Passed by the Parliament in December 2022, the changes were designed to deliver secure jobs and better pay, and to close the gender pay gap.
Emeritus Professor Mark Bray and Professor Alison Preston are leading the review of the Secure Jobs, Better Pay Act.
The Review Panel found that "the Secure Jobs, Better Pay reforms are, on the whole, achieving the Australian Government's intent, operating appropriately and effectively and with minimal unintended consequences".
The independent reviewers found that, since the passage of the reforms, "collective bargaining is increasing, especially the coverage of collective agreements, and wages (and other indicators workers' economic circumstances) have started to improve".
The review pointed to a "remarkable" increase in collective agreement coverage - with a 27 percent rise in the number of employees covered by a collective agreement between September 2022 and September 2024.
Real wages have gradually increased each quarter after Secure Jobs, Better Pay was passed.
The preliminary review also found that when it came to gender equity, "early trends in the gender pay gap suggest positive outcomes".
The report recommends that a further review be undertaken in the future, to look at the benefits of long-term measures.
Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Murray Watt said the interim report shows that the Coalition's scaremongering doesn't reflect reality, and Australians are getting paid more.
"The Albanese Government made these changes after a decade of deliberate wage suppression and workers' rights being driven into the ground by the former Coalition Government," Minister Watt said.
"While it's still early days in terms of the benefits of these measures, it's very encouraging that the independent review sees the positive impacts to workers' pay and conditions.
"It's great to see more people covered by bargaining agreements, and the gender pay gap now at its lowest in recorded history.
"When we introduced these laws, Peter Dutton and the Coalition warned they would 'close down Australia' and take us back to 'the Dark Ages'.
"In fact, Labor's laws have delivered Australians the pay rises they need and deserve.
"Already Peter Dutton has promised to axe many of our industrial relations changes and to unveil even more 'targeted repeals' of workplace laws, even when the experts say they are making a positive difference to Australians.
"It's time for Mr Dutton to come clean and tell Australians what changes he'll make and why he wants to cut Australians' pay."
The Review Panel received 47 written submission and consulted widely through 5 stakeholder roundtables, considering a wide range of evidence.
Submissions are now open on the interim report, due by 16 February, with a final report due to be provided to Government no later than 31 March.
The Government thanks Emeritus Professor Mark Bray and Professor Alison Preston for their work in delivering the draft report.
Information about the review, including the draft report, can be found at: https://www.dewr.gov.au/workplace-relations-australia/resources/draft-report-secure-jobs-better-pay-review
